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Symptoms of Chlamydia
Chlamydia Symptoms
During different stages of chlamydia, most patients experience few or no symptoms of an infection. Even without symptoms, the disease can cause complications, particularly infertility. The longer the infection is untreated, the more damage that can be done. In general, chlamydia symptoms usually develop one to three weeks after the bacterium has entered the body. Symptoms may be very mild.
Symptoms due to infection through vaginal sex
If patients develop the infection after vaginal sex, common chlamydia symptoms include painful urination, vaginal, penile, or urethral discharge, lower abdominal pain, bleeding or painful sexual intercourse in women, and testicular pain in men.
Symptoms due to infection through anal sex
If patients develop the infection after anal sex, rectal inflammation usually occurs. This inflammation typically causes pain and mucus discharge.
Eye symptoms
If patients touch their eyes after touching bodily secretions (e.g. semen or vaginal discharge) that are infected with chlamydia, they may develop an eye infection called pinkeye (conjunctivitis). Left untreated, pinkeye may lead to permanent blindness.
Symptoms in newborns
Newborns who contract chlamydia during childbirth usually develop pneumonia and/or severe eye infections, which may lead to blindness.
Complications from chlamydia
Patients infected with chlamydia are more vulnerable to other STIs, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), gonorrhea, and syphilis, if they are exposed to them. Therefore, patients who test positive for chlamydia are often tested for other STIs.
Females with untreated chlamydia may develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is an infection of the fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix. If left untreated, PID may cause permanent damage to the reproductive tract, which may lead to infertility. It may also lead to long-term pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy.
In pregnant women, chlamydia can cause premature delivery, the CDC says. A child born to an infected woman can develop an infection in their eyes and respiratory tracts.
Males with untreated chlamydia may develop a condition called epididymitis. This condition is characterized by inflammation of the tubes near the testicles that carry semen. Symptoms may include fever, scrotal pain, and swelling.
The infection may also spread to the prostate gland in males, causing inflammation (prostatitis). Symptoms of prostatitis may include pain during or after sex, fever, painful urination, and lower back pain.